Curtain stretcher



Dec; 2, 1930, E. B. FENTON ET AL 1,783,835

CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed Feb. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 *Ei-l gwumtop i itflfen T071 WCiIenfon D 1930. E. B. FENTON ET AL 1,783,835

' CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed Feb. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 amnion Patented Dec. v2, 1930 r I ELMER 3. rniv'ron AND wrnnun c. rENToN, or canAnnnrInaIowA CURTAIN srn-nrcnna Application filed February 21, 1929. Serial No. 341,732.

v This inventionrelates'to stretching frames and pertains particularly to an improved type .of frame for stretching curtains, particularlylace curtains.

The primary. object of the present inven tion is to provide a lace curtain stretching frame designed for'stretching all types, of

curtains but having associated therewith a 1 means for engaging the scalloped lower edge therefrom.

*1'0 of those curtains having fringe depending.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a curtain stretching frame of such cone struction that it maybe enlarged laterally and longitudinally after a curtain has been placed thereon for drawing the curtain tight.

A still further object of. the invention is to provide a frame structurefor stretching curtains which maybe employed for stretch;

mg severallcurtain's at one operation, even though the curtains may be of difierent lengths. f. v

, Still another object of the invention'is to providea curtain stretching frame which may be so disassembled as to permit it tobe reduced to a relatively small size't'o facilitate storing.

a consideration ofthe followingdetailed-de- 9 scription taken inponnection with the ac? companyingdrawing forming a part of this the curtain stretcher. embodying the present" elevational View of the lined-4 of Figure-1;

Figure 5 is a sectional the l1ne 55 of Figure l; I

F igure 6 is an enlarged detailed v ew of view taken upon one end of the bar designed for holding the scalloped edge of a curtain. I a V l Referring to the drawing in detail, the

numerals 1 each indicate generallythe side membersorbars of the frame embodying this invention, which members are, designed to be arranged in substantially upright "position when the 'frame'is setup. As shown, each of these members is formed in upper and lower sections 2 and 8, respectively, which are connected and held in alignment by the turn buckles 4, by means of which they maybe 4 longitudinally adjusted relative to one another.

The 1 side members 1. of .thes'irame are joined together by the transverse upper and lower connecting bars, indicated generally by the numerals 5 and6, respectively, each of these bars being formed in two sections,

each of which is indicated by the numeral 7, the sections being arranged in end aligned relation and'threadably connected by turnbuckles 8. The ends .of the cross connecting 1 I bars 5 and 6 are secured in any appropriate The invention will be'best understood from manner to the adjacent members of the side bars 1 and each is braced adjacent its point of connection witha side bar by the angularly directed brace members '9.

specification, withthe;understanding, llOW-- i ever, that the'invention is not ccnfined to:

strict. conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified Each'of the side bars 1 has secured theretothe 'forwardlyand laterally directed mem bers l'O to :which the edges of a curtainanay be secured; To the upper end of each of the portions2'of each side bar there is secured a plurality of wforwardly and upwardly directed'supporting hooks 11 and secured to the lower ends of each of the portions 3 of the side members or bars are similar but downwardly'directed hooks 12; To theback of the upper portion of each of thelside bars 1 is secureda hinge 'eye 18 through which is J pivotally engaged the yoke portion 14 of an invertedsubstantially Ushaped prop frame 15,1each-of' the legs of the frame being ad.- justably connected to the adjacent sidebar, of the curtain stretching frame by a chain V M e Connecting the upper ends ofthe side bars 1 and resting upon the hooks 11 are curtain supporting bars 17 and designed for use in association with the lower hooks 12 for engagement thereunder and for holding down the lower ends of curtains secured to the frame are similar transversely extending bars 18.

With the structure thus far desc ibed it will be readily seen that curtains'having hems across the upper and lower edges may be readily mounted upon this frame by engaging the side edges thereof over the hooks 10 of the side bars and by running one of the upper bars 17 through the top hem and supporting it upon the hooks 11 and extending one of the lower bars 18 through the lower hem and drawing it to position for engagement beneath the hooks 12. The curtain will then be held tightly across the frame.

In order to adapt the frame to curtains having scalloped lower edges to hold the scalloped portions tight while the curtain is drying, there is provided the structure indicated as a whole by the numeral 19. This structure comprises a pair of transverse bar members 20 which are arranged in spaced parallel relation and which have secured thereto the transverselv extending bar 21 of sinuous design. The loops or folds of this bar 21 extend in a substantially vertical plane with the frame and are set up for use and designed to substantially conform to the curves of the scalloped edge of thecurtain. This bar, like the side bars 1 carries a plurality of outwardly and downwardly projecting hooks 22 with which the lower scalloped edge of the curtain is adapted to engage.

The structure at 19 is held in position in substantially the same manner as the lower one of the bars 18, that is, by stretching the curtains downwardly after the hooks are engaged therewith, until one of the bar members 20 thereof can be engaged at its ends beneath the downwardly extending hooks 12.

In order to hold the bars 18 in position while securing the edges of a curtain to the frame or in order to hold one of the bars 18 in position while the other is being attached to the curtain, there is providedv in association with each of the pins or hooks 11 a stud 23, each stud being so spaced from the adjacent pin that a bar may be frictionally engaged between it and the pin, as'clearly shown in Figure 5.

As is shown in Figure 6, these studs also act to. hold one of the bars 20 of the structure 19 in place while the curtainis being attached thereto.

In Figure 4 there is shown a portion of a curtain indicated by the numeral 2 1 having a fringe '25, showing the manner in which the hooks 22 of the structure 19 engage the hem adjacent the fringe.

From the foregoing description it willbe readily seen that a number of curtains may be readily placed upon the stretching and drying frame and that curtains having scalloped edges may be stretched right to the edge of the scalloped portion instead of from a point inwardly of the scallops as they would be if applied to the usualstretching frame where the bottom row of pins for engaging the curtain ext-end straight across the frame. lVhile no particular material has been re ferred to for constructing a frame of this sort, the same has been shown as constructed of metal and this material when suitably treated to prevent rusting is preferable to others, however, it is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited to the use of this material for it is obvious that with slight viterations a wooden frame may be readily employed without departing from the spirit of the present invention, as expressed in the claims. y Having described our invention, what we claim is 1. A curtain stretching and drying device comprising a frame consisting of a pair of substantially parallel side bars, connecting members between said side bars inwardly of the ends thereof, means whereby said side bars may be lengthened or shortened, means whereby the side bars may be shifted relative to one another, curtain edge engaging members connecting said side bars adjacent their ends, and means forming a part of one of said curtain edge engaging memberswhereby a scalloped edge of a curtain may be engaged throughout its length for stretching the scalloped portions said scalloped edge engaging means comprising a plurality of spaced transverse bars and a sinuous member mounted thereon.

2. Acurtain stretching and drying device comprising a frame consisting of a. pair of substantially parallel. side bars, connecting members between said side bars inwardly of the ends thereof, means whereby said Side bars may be lengthened or shortened, means whereby the side bars may be shifted relative to one another, curtain edge engaging members connecting said side bars adjacent their ends, andmeans forming a part of one of said curtain edge engaging members whereby a scalloped edge of a curtain may be engaged throughout its length for stretching the scalloped portions, said means comprising a pair of transverse bars and a sinuous member having the curves thereof adapted to be positioned in a substantially vertical plane, said curves substantially conforming. to the scallop of a curtain edge, and hook members carried by the sinuous bar.

In testimony whereof we hereunto affix our signatures.

ELMER B. FENTON.

WILBUR C. FENTON. 

